Databases are one of the more enduring software engineering artefacts; it is not uncommon to find database implementations whose use can be traced back for 15 years or more. Consequently, maintenance of the database is a key issue.

Maintenance can take three main forms:

Operational maintenance, where the performance of the database is monitored. If it falls below some acceptable standard, then reorganisation of the database, usuall

Author(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

The aim of testing is to uncover errors in the design and implementation of the database, its structure, constraints and associated user and management support. Testing is usually considered to involve two main tasks – validation and verification. Without adequate testing users will have little confidence in their data processing.

Validation answers the question: has the right database been developed to meet the requirements? It attempts to confirm that the right database has been co

Author(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

Most of the development we've covered so far in this unit has focused on meeting specific user requirements – that is, ensuring the right data are constrained correctly and made available to the right user processes. However, other questions must also be addressed in order to support a data management strategy: How frequently should data be backed-up? What auditing mechanisms are required? Which users will be permitted to perform which functions? Which database tools and user processes wil

Author(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

The artist Christine Martell lives in Oregon in the United States and works with beads and visual images. I asked her to describe how she makes use of a computer to create her visual images of flowers and trees. She writes of her work:

I start by finding flowers that are compelling in some way, most often in form and colour. I take photographs with a 35 mm camera having a macro lens.

I'm usually looking for aAuthor(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

Many supermarkets and other firms (such as petrol companies and airlines) use loyalty cards: cards that offer a customer some form of incentive, such as a future discount or gift, to continue buying from that firm. For example, the British supermarket chain Tesco issues such cards. The holder of a loyalty card is regularly sent vouchers which give the holder discounts from their shopping bills and also vouchers which enable them to gain a discount on items that the supermarket wishes to promo

Author(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

If I take an average day in my life, I find myself surrounded by computers, most of which are invisible to me. This section looks at where computers are found in the course of everyday life. It aims to:

place computers in the context of the activities we do and the things we handle in our day-to-day lives.

But it does this from two points of view: the individual and the commercial organisation.

Author(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share

No related items provided in this feed

Working with charts, graphs and tables Your course might not include any maths or technical content but, at some point during your course, it’s likely that you’ll come across information represented in charts, graphs and tables. You’ll be expected to know how to interpret this information. This unit will help you to develop the skills you need to do this. This unit can be used in conjunction with the ‘More working with charts, graphs and tables’ unit, which looks into more ways to present statistical information and shows yAuthor(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

Your understanding and attitudes to science What is meant by 'science'? How do political, philosophical and religious beliefs affect scientific discoveries and developments? In this free course, Your understanding and attitudes to science, you focus on your own experiences and knowledge of science, and you look at creative contexts to support children's scientific learning in primary schools and early years settings.Author(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

No related items provided in this feed

Engaging with educational research This free course, Engaging with educational research, introduces you to the theoretical toolkit that is an essential part of engaging in educational enquiry. You will consider the types of theories and what their role is in the research process. Two very influential research perspectives are examined to identify differences in ways we think about and study the social world.Author(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

No related items provided in this feed

Key skills - making a difference This free course, Key skills - making a difference, focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wAuthor(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

No related items provided in this feed

Youth work: Introducing policy In this free course, Youth work: Introducing policy, we will look at the meaning of policy, how it works as a mechanism for persuading people to behave in particular ways, its role in shaping our understandings of young people, and the role practitioners can play in mediating and influencing policy. First published on Thu,Author(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

No related items provided in this feed

Learning and practice: Agency and identities This free course, Learning and practice: Agency and identities, introduces you to a sociocultural approach to understanding and analysing learning in educational institutions, the home and the workplace. First published on Thu, 14 Apr 2016 as Author(s): Creator not set

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see http://www.open.ac.uk/conditions terms and conditions), this content is made available under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2

In modern languages courses, as you would expect, the emphasis includes listening and speaking skills as well as reading and writing skills. To learn to be creative and spontaneous in the language you are studying, you need to practise listening and speaking throughout the course and in revision. Working through tAuthor(s): The Open University

License information

Related content

Except for third party materials and/or otherwise stated (see terms and conditions) the content in OpenLearn is released for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share